US International Hockey

The gold medal game of the World Junior Championship that featured Canada and the US was everything fans could hope for.

Watching the respectful applause that spread throughout the Canadian crowd after the overtime loss to the Americans, I could not possibly have been more proud. Excessive nationalism is part of the reason so many countries resent the US, and is therefore something I need to be careful with, but I just can’t see that happening in very many other places. Props, Saskatoon.

Aw, they's just yittle guys...

But anyway… eff me, was that a good game.

I’m generally not a huge fan of watching hockey with the word “junior” in it, but the quality of the WJC hockey is always pretty insane, and this was no different. You can’t help but think that if hockey is headed in that direction, we’re in good hands. Literally.

The Americans undoubtedly deserved to win (much like they did the game on New Years Eve). That said, that was some of the grossest goaltending I’ve seen in a big game since Luongo projectile vomited on all the fans in Vancouver against the ‘Hawks last year. The goal the American tender (Lee) got pulled on was such a nauseating unforced error you just got the feeling “you can’t survive giving those up in a big game”. Apparently, you can.

I’ve had one major thought about “the good of the game” lately – and that’s that the Americans need more international success, if for no other reason that to create a taste of the mania that ensued in Canada in ’02, when we won the Olympics (men and women), World Juniors, Spengler Cup, and I think the Superbowl.

Ironically, the best thing for Canadian hockey fans that love the game would be for the US to win this years Olympics, so maybe they’ll up their coverage or do something more thorough with the sport. Congrats to the American boys on the win, and congrats to the Canadian kids for silver – disappointing in our home country, but a medal to be proud of nonetheless.

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Less anger, more hockey, David.

I haven’t been very active in my comments section lately, but I thought I’d chime in on the US olympic team:

Choosing Backes over Okposo isn’t a bad call at all – I’d make the same one. Opo is a bull, sure, but Backes is even bigger and stronger. Careers to date, Backes has put up a 30 goal season, been in the playoffs and works just as hard as Kyle.

What really boggled my mind is Roenick saying the US team should have Oshie over Chris Drury. I love that he speaks his mind on stuff like that - that’s what an interview should be. Someone wants to know his thoughts on the makeup of a team, and those are his thoughts.

Still, you don’t have to name players that shouldn’t be on the team. You can name guys you’d like to see on the club and be vague about who should be off the squad in their favor. As a general rule, you probably shouldn’t carve the exact guy people relate to your country’s international program. I mean, he’s probably scored a big goal or two in his career, right? Not sure though.

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This has been on my mind for awhile, so I’ve gotta ask:

Has anyone else noticed how many female readers/commentors I have? Its certainly not a bad thing, it’s great — thanks for your support. I was just thinking, what percentage of people reading about hockey on the internet are female? Ten? Twenty?

What percentage do you think my commentor base is, 35? 45? And they aren’t “hey you’re cute” comments, they’re serious analyses of the sport. So I wanna know – what is it about my site that has earned me such a solid female hockey base? (If you say cat pictures you’re banned, don’t be a cliche.)

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As I tweeted yesterday, Monday marked the first 1,000 visitor day for Bourne’s Blog. We’re on the rise people. We’re on the rise.

Also, I’m taking votes for a Deadspin-esque sign-off phrase (thanks for your continued support of Deadspin). I like to have closure at the end of posts. Y’know, “Stay classy, San Diego” or “And thats the bottom line” or Jon Stewarts “F**k that chicken”. Okay, it’s not a sign-off, but it’s still a great catchphrase.

For now, thanks for your continued classy support of our bottom line: F**k that chicken.

Comments

I was introduced to hockey in upstate NY – there at every game they play both the US and Canadian anthems. I honestly thought that they *always* did that at hockey games because hockey is such a Canadian sport despite my watching it in the US. Then I moved to California, where they only play the US anthem unless we’re playing a Canadian team which is at least a nice compromise.

Then there was the night that a bunch of @#$*^$@# US fans decided that it was appropriate to boo through the Canadian anthem. The rest of the fan base, the media, and the team all came out with statements of condemnation for the behavior – but in the end it just reminds me that there are a lot of US boneheads out there. I’m sure there are boneheads in every country, but I only have to be embarrassed by the ones from mine.

and yes JT, it’s the human element that brings me back. I like hockey because the players seem like human beings – and reading your blog helps support that.

And I’m right there with you on hoping a win does something for USA hockey in general. I remember people being fairly excited about the 02 medal games but frankly most people haven’t even heard of the world juniors in my experience. I really hope that changes though I doubt it will. I had to watch a live feed (read – 7 minute delay) internet feed at a tiny resolution from TSN to watch. And I dont even think it got a mention on Sportscenter. Meanwhile some dude who make a 2 point shot from behind the basket was played on repeat at least twice an hour. If anyone anywhere in the world wants to make hockey bigger, pray the USA just clodstops every game in Vancouver. It might get some people to switch channels from the 17 basketball games being broadcast on every channel in the sports package.

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About Justin Bourne

I'm a hockey player turned writer. After playing for Alaska Anchorage in the WCHA (NCAA), I carried on with an NHL tryout (New York Islanders in 2007) before spending a couple seasons in the AHL/ECHL (last year was 2008-09). My father, Bob Bourne, won four Stanley Cups with the Islanders in the '80's, as did my fiancee's dad, Clark Gillies. I'm now the web editor for theScore's hockey blog "Backhand Shelf."

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To my Mom, Dad, Glenn, brother Jeff and my fiance Brianna... thank you, I love you guys. Also, Uncle Ken, you've been an immeasurable help in this and I'm infinitely grateful. All my love to Aunt Kathy and Grandma, two of my favourite people in the world. Also to the extended family in Saskatchewan, I miss you guys. Thanks to friends like Neil Corbett and Dave Cunning for your support in an obscure endevour like this, and to friends like Charlie Kronschnabel and Nick Lowe for being guys who'll like me and not care (or possibly ask) why or what weird project I'm scheming on now. And thanks to all you long-lost-but-still-important friends I didn't mention. You know who you are.